Question

A researcher studies the effects of gender by comparing people's experiences before undergoing sex changes and then again after their sex changes (e.g., like the Donald to Deirdre case). The researcher uses a statistical technique called individual fixed effects, which involves:

a. comparing an outcome across time as some factor changes.
b. analyzing data from a single point in time.
c. comparing outcomes across different individuals.
d. using a control group to isolate the effects.

Answer 1

Individual fixed effects is a statistical technique used to compare outcomes across time as some factor changes, often utilized when an independent variable, like gender, cannot be randomly assigned. option a

Step-by-step explanation:

The research question involves using individual fixed effects to analyze changes in individuals over time as related to gender changes. This technique, option (a), involves comparing an outcome across time as some factor changes, in this case, gender.

The technique is crucial when working with experiments that deal with quasi-experimental designs, which are studies that cannot manipulate their independent variable(s) for ethical or practical reasons.

Since we cannot randomly assign sex changes to individuals, researchers use naturally occurring changes, and individual fixed effects statistical methods help to control for personal characteristics that stay constant over time, thereby focusing on the changes induced by the sex change.

We can consider such a use of individual fixed effects as a means of experimental design in situations where traditional experimental manipulation is not possible.

In the context provided, gender, as an independent variable, impacts a dependent variable (like experiences or behaviors) before and after the sex change. The individual fixed effects model would help in isolating the impact of gender change on the outcomes by accounting for fixed characteristics of each person. Option a